New Path

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My mom was fast moving on the recovery kick. All the therapists agreed she was stronger everyday. She was starting to have use of her right side and using a cane. She was still not able to do small things but Harland, my stepdad, was being trained to help her with small details.

So my travel-mind started to dream again of the world. There were still countries I hadn't been to. I looked online for tickets. I wanted to continue around the earth the way I was going but it was too pricey to fly all the way to Indonesia (my last nearest destination from Nepal) from where I was in USA.

So I settled for a round trip from NYC to Ireland. I found a flight on American Airlines for around $500 and an Irish airline that could fly me beyond the ol sod for $20 and up.

I had a red-eye from New York City and it laid over briefly in London town. I had met a girl named Tali (pronounced Tally!) at the airport in New York who was flying to Dublin on a vegan adventure. We got along great from the minute I asked her if she could guard my laptop which I had out charging. I went to a shop and spent a lot of time away from it and her. She thought it was funny.

Then I borrowed her iPhone to check in with my mom right before the flight was taking off. She left her phone with me because I was using it and she had been called on the plane. I found her after. This trust swap made us become friends instantly. Plus we were going to a land of rad-ness.

At London-Heathrow they almost didn't let me through. The nerve. I had to show them documentation that I would be traveling again to New York and leaving the UK. After that drama I literally had to run through security and cut the lines to make it.

Sprinting down hallways and over hurdles I was an Olympic airport runner with songs from Pink Floyd's, "Dark Side of the Moon" album running in my brain. Courteous gentleman moving aside. I barely made the British Airways hopper to Dublin. Ugh! But I found my seat and there was room for Tali to sit beside me!

I have a friend who is like a sister named Mariah who lived in Dublin for a few years during college. I knew all her close Irish friends and they were there to welcome me. Aine (pronounced on-ya!) met me in central Dublin and we wandered off in the city. She was a mom now and her son, little Elijah, was there. He was being strolled around watching the ducks in the park and the flowers. He was just like me. In a new world and happy to be there taking everything in. Our beautiful Irish hostess was giving us the tour of the amazing town.

As I was struggling to keep my eyes open Aine offered that we return to her place and I get some sleep. I couldn't have agreed more. We took the train and I crashed out.

That night we went back into town to have a few beers in the city center. I called Tali and she linked up with us at the Temple bar which is in the Temple bar area (confusing I know) near the college. It's a great little area where everyone is enjoying themselves (as the Irish do). There was an amazing scene of music that I really enamored on.

Happily enough; late into the night I was so drunk that they denied me entry at one of the best clubs. Now that's saying something in Ireland. We tried again and just had to talk about Hawaii a bit and how I was from there and the bouncer loved me. The first was jealous that I was with two hot chicks.

Anyway we continued our debauchery. I had never tasted a drink so good as a cold Irish Guinness from the land it was created (a root beer float is the only thing that comes close.)

I was off in my element of world travel again.

Life was all around and I was having a celebration of everything good in the world and the opening to a new European adventure.

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Photos

Flying again
Up up and away!!

Me n the lasses!
Dublin Dinner